Chapter 33
Alright, Merlin had a plan. Or two. Or twenty. He still remembered the talk he had had with Dragoon about prophecies, and while he had come up with a few ways of dealing with Morgana's vision, he still wasn't sure about any one of them.
After thinking about it most of the night, he was trying to decide between two choices.
The first one was to make sure that he had a powerful spell with him that can cure Morgana in case she got hurt. Last time, when Morgana had been hurt by Sarrum, he went into full Emrys mode and healed her just by willing it, but he still hadn't been able to do that whenever he wanted, so he needed another way. His idea was to ask Kilgharrah for the same healing spell he had once given him. If that worked once before, why not again?
The other one was a bit more strange, but it had the benefit that Morgana would never actually get hurt. The idea was for Dragoon to somehow make them believe that Morgana was dying when this wasn't the case at all, and so what Morgana saw would happen would happen, but not really. Merlin knew that this would require some memory meddling spells to make sure that they believed it was true, but he was almost sure Dragoon could do it, and by now he kind of already trusted the man enough to let him try. There was the small matter of making Morgana agree to this too, but that was for later.
He still was weighing pros and cons about each one, while at the same time making sure there wasn't any other better choice. His next move was to go talk with Dragoon about Morgana's vision and his plan to prevent it. He was sure that with both of them working together they would solve this in no time.
Time...
All Merlin needed to fix this was a little time...
Unfortunately for him, that was the one thing he didn't have.
.
.
Arthur woke up at the sound of the someone knocking repeatedly on his door. His first thought was that Merlin was about to bother him with something, but then he realized that there was no way Merlin was up this early.
He looked next to him. Guinevere was still deeply asleep, probably something to do with all the time she had spent in the forge the day before. He smiled and for a second his mind wandered about how lucky he had been of finding someone like her, but another set of knocks brought him back to reality. He got up quietly, put on some clothes and moved to the door. He opened it ready to scold whoever was knocking, but something in Leon's face stopped him.
"Sire," the knight said, in an alarmed tone, "I have bad news. It's the Saxons, sire. They are marching towards Camelot."
Arthur had been waiting to hear those words for almost a week now, but even then his hearth skipped a beat. At some level, he still had the hope that the kings would just turn back and return to where they come from, that this war wouldn't happen, but, as always, they would have to fight. He moved outside of his room and close the door behind him. Gwaine and Percival were standing right next to Leon.
"How long do we have?" he asked, looking at the knight.
"According to what the scouts said, by now the Saxons must be two hours away, maybe three," Leon replied.
"Two hours!" Arthur exclaimed, in a loud voice. "How is that possible? Why didn't we learn about this sooner?"
"My apologies, sire," Leon said, bowing his head slightly. "Somehow they managed to kill many of our scouts before they could report back. Only a handful came back to Camelot, and most of them are badly injured."
Arthur placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "It's not your fault Leon," Arthur said, noticing that Leon was looking down. "It's just I expected we would have much longer. Who knows about this?"
"Just the scouts and the Knights of the Round Table," explained Gwaine. "We wanted to have your orders before telling anyone else."
"Alright," Arthur said, nodding. "This is what you are going to do. Gwaine, you have to tell the knights what is going on and prepare them for battle. Percival, your task is to make sure every citizen is inside Camelot within the hour. Make sure they remember what they practice this past week; they should remain calm and bring only what they can carry. Leon, I want you to send a messenger to each of the armies of the other kingdoms. Tell them the Saxons are coming. They have to get ready their men and I want each of the kings to meet me in the round table in half an hour. I want a similar message sent to the druids, but I would like you to deliver it in person."
Arthur made a pause and all of them nodded.
"I will be making a speech after the meeting with the other leaders, and afterwards I'll meet with you to arrange the final details, any questions?" Arthur asked, but it was mostly for protocol. These men had been at his side through many battles, and he was almost sure that they had known what he would ask of them even before knocking at his door.
None of the knights said a word. They just bowed and went away. Arthur turned around and went back inside his room. He moved towards the bed and grabbed Guinevere gently by the shoulder.
"Gwen, Gwen, wake up," he told her, in a hushed voice.
The queen started opening her eyes slowly, but when she saw Arthur's face she quickly sat on the bed.
"Arthur, what's wrong?" she asked, with a worried look.
"They are coming," he simply answered.
There was a second of surprise in the queen's face, but only a second. "What can I do?" she asked.
.
.
Merlin hated waking up this early, but he had to solve this matter before it drove him insane. He was about to open the door with the intention of going to see Dragoon when someone knocked. He froze by the surprise and asked who it was. He heard Arthur's voice telling him he needed to talk. One instant Marlin was wondering what Arthur wanted and how long would take, and the next he realized something was wrong. Very wrong. Arthur didn't knock, he barged in.
There was just one way to find out exactly what was happening. Merlin moved forward and opened the door. The one in the other side was indeed the king, but there was something in his look that hinted that Merlin might be right.
"I'm surprised you are awake," said Arthur. "Do you already know?" he asked.
"Know what?" Merlin asked back.
"It's the Saxons," Arthur explained. "They are on their way here."
Merlin tried to convince him he had heard wrong, but he knew he hadn't. He felt as all his plans fell to the ground and broke in a million pieces. Why couldn't they have waited just one day more? Just one. He cursed his luck and tried to think what to do next, but Arthur kept talking.
"Our scouts say that they'll be here in under three hours. I need you to pick up Morgana and go to the round table. We'll need to be ready when they get here." Arthur expected some kind of reply, but the sorcerer just remained silent. "Merlin, did you understand?"
"Yes," he answered, nodding. "Sorry..."
"It's alright, it's not easy news," Arthur replied, handing him the key to Morgana's cell. "And Merlin, tell Dragoon to come too. "
Merlin nodded once more, but his thoughts were still trying to figure out how to help Morgana. Just a couple of hours... Just a couple of hours to avoid the prophecy and get ready for what possibly would be the toughest battle of their lives. For a little time he panicked, but then he remembered who he was. He was Emrys! He had saved far more people in far less time! Many times! Two hours to save only one person? That was child's play, and with Dragoon's help it would be even easier!
Merlin knew that those thoughts weren't a hundred percent true, they were just his attempt to make himself feel better, but they helped. He grabbed the key, nodded once more and started moving.
.
.
When Merlin reached Morgana's cell, Dragoon was already there.
"...please, you have to promise me," Morgana said.
Dragoon nodded, and then looked to his left. "Kid, I was wondering when you would show up," he said, looking at Merlin.
"What are you doing here?" Merlin asked him. As far as he knew this was the first time Dragoon visited Morgana in her cell.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Dragoon asked, with a bit of malice.
Merlin was about to answer something witty, but Morgana spoke first.
"I've told him about my vision," she explained.
"You did?" Morgana nodded. "That's good. I actually wanted to talk about you two about that too, but I have to tell you something else first," Merlin said.
"The Saxons are on their way here, am I right?" Dragoon asked.
"As always..." Merlin said, letting out a sigh. "How did you know?"
"Your face," Dragoon replied. "It was either that or you misplaced Arthur's favorite armor."
"Do you really think this is the time for jokes?" Merlin asked, in a scolding tone.
"Actually, yes," Dragoon replied, after giving it some thought.
Morgana was giving Merlin a concerned look. "How far are they?" she asked.
"Not far enough," Merlin replied. "Arthur have called a meeting and he asked us to go. All of us," he added, looking at Dragoon.
"Alright," said the sorcerer, standing up. "I just have to get a few things ready before that. See you at the meeting, kids." And with that he disappeared before anyone could say a word.
"It's really annoying when he does that," Merlin said.
"Merlin, open the cell," Morgana said. "I don't... I don't like feeling powerless right now."
"Yes, sorry," he said. He moved towards the gate and placed the key in the keyhole. He started turning it, but when the key was halfway to open the cell he stopped.
"What's wrong?" Morgana asked.
Merlin was remembering Morgana's vision. In it, she died in the battle between Camelot and the Saxons, but what if she wasn't in the battle? What if she was just locked in a cell a safe distance from the fight?
"Don't you ever think about it!" Morgana said, realizing what he was thinking. He didn't move. "Merlin! You have no right to do this! If there is any chance of me redeeming myself I have to fight along them, I have to protect Camelot!"
"How can you redeem yourself if you are dead?" Merlin asked, still looking at the key.
Morgana saw Merlin's hands and for a second she thought about trying to grab the key from him, but she knew that as long as he had magic and she hadn't trying so was pointless. Besides, even if she could, she didn't want to do it like that. She knew Merlin was doing this only to protect her. She just had to make him understand.
"Merlin, I need to do this. I need to be there today. What about all those who will die because I wasn't there? What if you die? How do you expect me to live with myself knowing I could have helped you?" Morgana asked.
"The same could be say if I let you out and you are killed in the battle," Merlin pointed out.
"Yes, but it's my choice! Mine! I choose to fight at your side. There were many who have decided for me before. Don't join them. Please."
Merlin thought for a second and finished opening the cell. "I'm sorry," he said, in a low voice. "It's just... I really don't want to lose you."
"You won't," she said. She moved towards him and grabbed his head with both her hands. "Merlin, look at me. You won't lose me, understood?"
Merlin nodded. Morgana got closer to him and kissed him.
"Good," she said. "Now, let's make those Saxons have nightmares about the day they first heard about Camelot," she said, with determination in her eyes.
"You know," Merlin said, "when I'm not in the receiving end of them, your threats are kind of awesome."
"You think? I was afraid it was a bit too much," Morgana said, tilting her head.
"No, no, it felt right," Merlin replied, nodding repeatedly.
Morgana made an amused smiled. "Good to know."
.
.
.
The meeting with Arthur and the other kings went just as a you expect a multi-kingdoms-pre-war planning meeting would go. There were discussions about where to place which soldiers and in what order would each army attack. Some of the kings still distrust the druids, but they knew that they needed their help if they were to fight against the coming army.
Merlin tried to follow the conversation as better as he could, but he found himself just drifting away. His task had already been determined and it was pretty straightforward: along with Morgana and Dragoon, they were the ones who had to fight against the two kings themselves.
Now that the meeting had finally ended, only the three sorcerers remained in the room. Dragoon started to walk outside and signaled the other to follow. Merlin was already wondering where they were going when Dragoon finally started talking.
"So, about Morgana vision..." he said, still moving.
Both Merlin and Morgana looked at him.
"...I have no idea what it means."
"That's not very helpful..." Merlin protested.
"Well, as I've said, visions are not my thing."
"So, that's it? You can't help us?" Merlin asked.
"Did I say that?" Dragoon asked back.
"So, you can help?" Merlin asked again.
"No, I can't. I was just reminding you not to assume things," Dragoon told him.
"This is not a joke!" Merlin exclaimed, angry.
"Merlin!" Morgana said, grabbing him by the arm.
"It's alright," Dragoon said, turning around. "I can't help, but I know someone who can."
That was when Merlin realized where they had walked following Dragoon. They were in the entrance to Kilgharrah and Aithusa's cave. Apparently he was about to owe the dragon not one, but two favors.
"Are you sure he will help me?" asked Morgana.
"He can't help showing off he knows more than the rest," Dragoon replied, smiling. "If he knows something, he'll tell us."
The second they stepped inside the cave, Aithusa flew quickly towards Morgana. After living together for so long, it was hard for the dragon to be away from her. Even when Merlin always made sure that Morgana visited her at least once a day, the dragon always acted as if she hadn't seen Morgana for months. Noticing their embrace, Merlin knew that Morgana felt the same. In that moment he promised himself that, if everything went well today, he would make sure Morgana didn't return to her cell. Not anymore.
They were still greeting Aithusa when Kilgharrah flew down to his usual spot. The dragon said something to Aithusa and after saying goodbye of Morgana she flew away. Kilgharrah waited until the small dragon was outside of the cave before talking.
"Our enemies are already on their way here," he said, looking at Merlin.
"We already know," he replied.
"Then what are you doing here?" Kilgharrah asked, giving them a stern look. "You know we can't help you, not until you kill the other dragonlords."
Merlin glanced at Morgana and then back at the dragon.
"We need to ask you something..." he said.
"I need help understanding a vision," Morgana interceded.
Kilgharrah looked at her. "I've promised Merlin I wouldn't harm you, witch," he said, "but that is as far as I go. Why would I help you?"
"It's a vision about this battle," Morgana explained.
"About the battle, you say..." Kilgharrah kept looking at her, deliberating what to do.
Morgana couldn't afford for him not to help her, and she knew the perfect way to convince him.
"I die in it," she added.
"Oh... please tell... " Kilgharrah quickly replied.
Ignoring Merlin's protests, Morgana closed her eyes and she recalled her vision aloud.
She was laying on the floor, surrounded by corpses. Hundreds... Thousands... Too many to even count.
Between them, red and black banners stood out, showing the allegiances that those men once had. On one side the golden dragon of Camelot, on the other the red viper of the Saxons.
A raven was sitting on one helmet. It cawed and flew towards her, stopping on top of a sword that was stuck in the ground. She recognized it, it was Arthur's. And it was glowing.
A young man walked until he was just above her. Emrys. No. Merlin.
She stretched her arm towards him, as she had always done in this dream.
"Help me, Meriln. Please," Morgana said. Once again, her hand had no wrinkles.
Merlin was rushing towards her, his face filled with worry. He kneeled and started healing her.
"You'll be fine Morgana, I promise you, you'll be fine," he said, between spells. "Please don't leave me, please," he added, in a voice that sounded like he was trying hard not to cry.
Morgana wanted to answer him, but she was tired... so tired... "Goodbye, my love," she managed to say, in a low voice.
"No! Morgana! MORGANA!"
This time Merlin's screams didn't wake up. With her last breathe she saw as Merlin face filled with sorrow, and how that sorrow was slowly replaced by hatred. She saw as his eyes started to glow darker than anything she had ever seen before. And finally, she saw as the world exploded.
When she opened her eyes the cave was silent, and the Great Dragon was looking right at her. For a few minutes no one said a word, until eventually Kilgharrah set his gaze on Merlin.
"You should have listen to my words, young warlock. You should have killed her."
Morgana opened wide her eyes. Merlin took a step forward.
"Kilgharrah, enough of that!" Merlin exclaimed. "Can you tell us something about what she had seen, yes or no?"
The dragon snort and a bit of fire came out his nostrils. He looked at Morgana. "How long have you been having this vision?"
"Years," Morgana replied, "but some parts changed over time."
"Of course they did," Kilgharrah said, as if that was obvious.
"Why?" Morgana asked.
"Why?" Kilgharrah asked back, sounding confused. "Tell me, witch, what do you about your gift?"
Morgana stared at the dragon. Morgause had been the only one who had ever refer to her ability to see the future as a 'gift'.
"My sister taught me all she had learned from the High Priestesses. While she did help me to use my magic, she didn't know much about the sight." Morgana touched her wrist, when the bracelet used to be. Even after finding out Morgause had used her, Morgana still missed her sister. "The first thing she ever gave me was a magical bracelet to keep the visions in check."
"Hmm... Well, a seer's visions are echoes of things that didn't happen yet," Kilgharrah explained. "The bigger the event the farther back that echo reaches, and the sooner you can see it. However, if you are seeing something that is too far, you see it distorted, like hearing a voice calling you from far away. As time passes and you get closer and closer to the event, the vision gets clearer, and you see more." The dragon took a deep breath. "The fact that you have been seeing this for so long means that something big will happen today. Something that will change this world, forever."
"But, can we stop it?" Merlin asked.
"These kind of events have power on their own. They draw reality towards them. They have to happen," Kilgharrah told him. The dragon looked at Morgana. "What you have seen will come true, no matter what you do," he added, in a solemn voice.
Morgana looked down and nodded slowly.
Dragoon moved towards the dragon. "Come on, Kilgharrah, work with us here," he said. "What about what the vision itself, what do you think it could mean?"
"Well... I suppose that even you know can figure out the meaning of the corpses in the battlefield. This is a war. People will die."
"Thank you, I would have never, ever, thought of that," Dragoon said. "What about the rest? What about the raven?"
"Most people thinks ravens are carriers of death, but they are wrong. It's not that the ravens brings death, but that they can feel it. They know where death will take place, and they go there to feed afterwards."
"Does that mean that Arthur is in danger?" Morgana asked, concerned.
"Of course he is in danger," the dragon replied. "He is going to fight against one of the more powerful armies of this world. But your vision doesn't show you that. You didn't see Arthur himself, you saw his sword. How many people has he killed with it? How many more will he kill today? "
"So, that's it? All my vision is telling us is that Arthur will kill our enemies?"
"Perhaps... perhaps is telling us more. I still can't understand what the glowing means," Kilgharrah said, with his gaze lost.
"What about me dying?" asked Morgana. "Can I... can that be interpreted otherwise?"
"No, it can't," the dragon replied.
Morgana was waiting for some remark from Kilgharrah telling her that she dying was for the best or something like that, but he remained silent.
"What about him?" she asked, looking at Merlin, who was looking back at her.
"That's by far the most alarming thing in what you saw," Kilgharrah replied, moving his eyes towards him. "Merlin is joined with magic in a unique way. He doesn't have magic, magic is part of who he is. This makes him powerful, but also dangerous. If he were to unleash his magic without control..." Kilgharrah shook his head. "If there is just a slight chance of that happening I should keep you for setting foot in that battlefield," he said, looking at Merlin, "but I fear that without you, Camelot will fall. Besides, the witch already saw you there, so trying to stop you would be pointless. "
"Kilgharrah, what if you are wrong?" Merlin asked. "What if this doesn't have to happen? You are not stopping me from going to the battlefield because you think that you can't, and so I go there. What if the rest is also like that? This is just a vision, a possibility, one of many, it doesn't have to come true."
"I know you want that to be truth, young warlock, but I've been doing these far more time than you. Once I also tried to prevent what I saw, only to have it seen happen, again, and again, and again," Kilgharrah said. "What she saw will happen, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. The sooner you accept that, the better."
"What about the time you saw that city burning to the ground?" Dragoon asked. "The king chose to hear your word and he evacuated the city. All the people panicked, they sold their most valuable things trying to buy a carriage out of there. There was looting, thieving, killing. It was chaos. And what happened?" He made a pause. "Nothing! Nothing happened! When they got back the city was destroyed, yes, but from what they themselves had done trying to get away from the fire you predicted!"
"That's different!" Kilgharrah exclaimed. "That vision came to me that same morning. I told the king what I saw, but I also told him he shouldn't act on it just yet, that I had to ponder it's true meaning. The fool didn't hear me. That's not my fault. This vision has been happening for years, Dragoon. Years! You don't even realize how unusual that is. What she saw will happen!"
"Alright... let's say that what she saw will become true," Merlin interceded, "that she will get hurt, then I just have to heal her! All I need is the healing spell you once gave me," he said looking at Kilgharrah. "Will you make me use my powers again?" he asked the dragon.
"That won't be necessary, Merlin. I'll share my knowledge with you once more, but there is something you are not considering."
"What?"
"What makes you think you didn't have this spell in her vision?"
Merlin was thinking about what the dragon just said when this one moved quickly towards him and opened his mouth. A magical breath left his mouth and bathed Merlin. Even when it was mostly magic, that didn't mean it smelled nice.
"Thanks for the heads up," Merlin said, closing his eyes.
"You're welcome," the dragon replied. "Anything else?"
Merlin and Dragoon shook their heads.
"Kilg—" Morgana started. "Great Dragon. If anything happen to me today, would you please take care of Aithusa? Tell her... Tell her I'll always love her," Morgana said, trying to hold back her tears.
"Don't worry witch," Kilgharrah replied. "If we have just one thing in common, that is how much we care for her. She'll be fine. I promise."
"Thank you," she replied, nodding.
"Now go, you have to get ready for what's coming," the dragon said. "We'll be waiting your call." With that he opened his wings and left.
.
.
When they left the cave everything was chaos, but good chaos.
The streets were filled with people running from one point to another, moving supplies or carrying orders. The three of them couldn't take two steps without having to dodge someone. In the end they decided that it was for the best to leave the main streets and get to the castle using another route.
They were moving through the training grounds, where the knights were getting ready. A group in the distance caught Morgana's attention. One knight was fighting alone against four others. Every time one of the knights attacked him, he would dodge and throw the attacker to the ground. When the knights realized that they couldn't do it alone, they attacked at the same time. It was a good idea, but the one in the middle saw it coming. One instant the knights were about to hit him, and the next the four of them were lying on their backs. Morgana was impressed. In her time as Camelot's enemy, she had made sure to know all the knights worth knowing, but this one was a stranger to her.
"Is he new?" she asked Merlin, pointing at the knight.
Merlin smiled. "Yes, and is a she actually," he replied.
Morgana looked at him with wide eyes. "What?" she asked.
"That's Ariel, Gwaine's girlfriend. Arthur made her a knight just a few days ago."
Morgana couldn't believe it. "And the rest of the knights were fine with that?"
"Well... Arthur said that anyone who had a problem with that could challenge her to a duel. One knight was actually stupid enough to do that." Merlin let out a small laugh. "He still recovering."
Morgana smiled back at him and looked around. The ban on magic had been lifted, the kingdoms and the druids were fighting side by side, and now a woman was made knight.
"Camelot is changing," she said, thinking aloud.
"It is," Merlin replied, "and is our job to protect it."
Morgana looked at Dragoon, who was awfully quiet. "Dragoon, do you mind giving us a minute?" she asked.
"What?" he asked, as if his mind had been somewhere else. "Oh, yes, sure... I'll find Arthur. I'll tell him you'll be there soon."
Merlin looked as Dragoon walked away and then he turned to face Morgana.
"Merlin..." she started, in a low voice.
"Don't," he interrupted her. "I forbid you."
"What are you talking about?" Morgana asked, confused.
"You were about to give me an 'if I die' speech, weren't you?" From the look on Morgana's face, Merlin confirmed he was right. "I forbid you from doing that," he said.
"How did you—? Look, I just need to—"
"No," he interrupted her again. "You've told me I won't lose you and I will hold you to that."
"Merlin, you heard the dragon."
"I will not let a prophecy determine our future. Not again," Merlin said, with determination in his eyes.
"But if I die—"
"I don't want to hear it!" he exclaimed.
"But I need to say it!" she yelled back. "I need you to know... please, Merlin..."
"Morgana, I can't..." Merlin said, his voice filled with anguish. "If I let you tell me this is like I'm accepting you will... I can't..."
Morgana moved closer to Merlin, grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes.
"Thank you," she said. Merlin tried to stop her, but Morgana kept talking. "Thank you for loving me. You don't— you don't know what that means to me. With all I've done, all I've been through, I've always assumed that... that I wouldn't have this," she said, moving her free hand back and forth between them.
"When I decided to fight for the freedom of magical people, I realized that there was a good chance that I would never lead a normal life, but I accepted it. I had made my peace with it. And still, sometimes, when I saw a happy couple I couldn't help to wonder what I was missing." She made a sad smile and shook her head. "It was pointless. I was a High Priestess of the Old Religion. Men either were afraid of me or wanted to use my powers for themselves. I was sure that I would have to walk this world alone, but that was the price to pay for a chance of freedom.
"And then you appeared," she said, tightening her grip on his hand. "You, who knew me better than anyone else, who had seen all my mistakes, who had fought against me, who should have been the one who wanted to kill me the most, and yet, for some reason you still..." Morgana wiped a tear from her eye. " Thank you. Thank you. I love you."
Merlin couldn't speak. She drew Morgana towards him and embraced her tightly. Minutes went by before they moved apart.
"Do you want to know why I love you?" Merlin asked, looking at her.
Morgana looked at him and nodded.
"Good, I'll tell you after the battle," Merlin said, smiling. "I guess you'll have to survive after all."
"You are an idiot," Morgana replied, also smiling.
"But I'm your idiot," he pointed out.
"Yes, you are."
They were moving closer to each other when two voices caught their attention.
"But I want to talk to her!" someone yelled.
"You can't. She's Morgana. She's dangerous!" another one replied.
"But I really want to!"
"I won't let you."
Merlin and Morgana followed the voices around a nearby corner.
"She helped our father!" Nadia protested.
"I know," Aidan replied, "but maybe she had an evil plan."
"What kind of plan?" Nadia asked, concerned.
"Who knows? Maybe she is going to give you really big ears!" her brother answered, mimicking said ears with his hands.
"I don't want really big ears!" she exclaimed. "What should I do!?
"You should remain really quiet and she won't see us," he said, in a not really low voice.
"Hi there," Merlin said.
The two kids looked at him and noticed that both he and Morgana were looking at them.
"She saw us! She saw us!" exclaimed Nadia.
"Run!" ordered her brother.
They both turned around and started to run with their arms extended. Morgana raised her hand, her eyes glowed, and the kids remained still. Another glow and they turned around and faced her.
"Kids," she said, kneeling in front of them and unfreezing them, "I'm not going to hurt you, and I don't have an evil plan. Especially not giving you really big ears," she added, smiling. "It's true that I've done some bad things in the past, but now I'm here to help. Do you understand?"
"But, you lied to us!" Nadia said.
"I had to," Morgana replied. "I was in hiding, and I couldn't let anyone know where I lived. Besides, if you would have known who I truly was, you would have run away the second you saw me. But instead you talked to me, you played with Aithusa, and you brought me to heal your father. Hiding my true identity was the only way to help him and the other villagers."
"You have killed people," Aidan pointed out.
"I have," Morgana replied, in a low voice.
"How can you be good if you have killed people?"
Morgana smiled. "Aidan, life is more complicated than good or bad. Most of us are a bit of both, and we make mistakes."
"A lot of them, in your case," Merlin said.
"Shut up, Merlin."
Aidan thought about it for a while. "I don't get it."
"Don't worry," Morgana said, smiling, "you'll understand it when you are older, just know that I don't mean you any harm, alright?"
Both the kids nodded.
"Now, shouldn't you be with your father?" Morgana asked, squinting her eyes.
Nadia looked down. "Yes, Le Fey— I mean, Morgana," she quickly corrected.
"You can call me Le Fey if you want. I like the name."
The girl made a wide smile.
"Now go," Morgana added, nodding towards the rest of the people.
The kids turned around and started to walk away.
"See, I told you she was good. I won!" Nadia said.
"No, she said she was both good and bad, so we were both right," Aidan replied.
"That's cheating!"
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's..."
Merlin and Morgana waited until the kids were far enough that they couldn't hear them anymore, which because of their voices turned out to be a while. Once they were gone, Merlin grabbed by her waist Morgana and drew her towards him.
"Now, where were we?"
Morgana smiled and pressed her lips to his.
Every time the kiss seemed to be over, they started a new one, like if they didn't want to know what would happen when they stop, like if they would give anything to make that moment last forever.
"It's time," Morgana finally said, pulling away.
"I know," Merlin replied, stroking her cheek.
They just looked at each other eyes for a little while. Green looking at Blue. Blue looking at Green. They took a deep breath, grabbed each other's hand and started to walk towards the castle. Towards Arthur. Towards war. Towards prophecies.
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A/N: I hope you liked it!
Alright, it seems that I'm really bad at keeping deadlines. Almost as bad as Merlin and Morgana are at not being dramatic :p.
Now, in all accounts we are now two chapters to go (for real), and I really want to end this before new year, so I'll see if I can do that xD.
Thanks AndreKl, mersan123, Guest, Lady Flurryous and Magicisagift for the reviews =D
Lady Flurryous: Loved the Gaius hate xD. It's true that he had made many mistakes, especially not doing anything to stop the purge and deciding not to help Morgana. I like to think of him as a Merlin / Arthur / Gwen scenario gone terribly wrong. In my mind, he was a good friend of Uther before he lost his wife to magic, and when this happened he stood by him because of that friendship, maybe trying to make him see not all magic was evil (with a not very good success). After that, he stayed in Camelot, forced to see what Uther did to others like himself, but without daring to make anything to stop him. He did a few things to help people with magic (like helping Alice and baby Morgause escape), but in the end he always followed the rules set by Uther. If this was because of loyalty, fear or guilt I don't know. Then, one day he decides to help Merlin (in what universe is sending him to Camelot helping him?) and he's extra cautious about the kid getting caught because all he saw these past twenty years. When they learn about Morgana having powers, he decides against helping her to keep Merlin's secret as secret as humanly possible. One would think that he would care what happens to Morgana after all these years, but apparently he's willing to make her suffer instead of having just one more person knowing about Merlin. Why is this, I don't know. For some reason he feels a debt towards Merlin's mother.
About the prophecies dilemma, I like to show that most of the characters see it differently. Kilgharrah believes in them blindly, while Dragoon is wary of them. Because she's a seer herself, Morgana's beliefs are closer to Kilgharrah's, while Merlin thinks more like Dragoon. Who is right? We'll see.